Therapy Procedures, Interview Procedures

Discussing Assessment and Therapy Procedures

After initial concerns and goals have been identi?ed, a brief review or explanation of interview procedures is appropriate. Depending on the situation, you may choose to 320 Interviewing Special PopulationsInterviewing Young Clients

Children and the Culture of Divorce

The following Divorced Children’s Bill of Rights is a document written to divorced and divorcing parents from the child’s perspective. It is included here to give you a deeper sense of children’s views of the culture of divorce.

The Divorced Children’s Bill of Rights

I am a child of divorce. I hold these truths to be self evident: I have the right to be free from your con?icts and hostilities. When you badmouth each other in front of me, it tears me apart inside. Don’t put me in the middle or try to play me against my other parent. And don’t burden me with your relationship problems, they’re yours, not mine.

I have the right to develop a relationship with both parents. I love you both. I know you will sometimes be jealous about that, but you need to deal with it because you are the adult and I am the child.

I have a right to information about things that will affect my life. If you’re planning on getting a divorce, I have a right to know, just as soon as possible. Likewise, if you’re planning to move, get remarried, or any other major life change, I have a right to know about it.

Just as I have a right to basic information about my life, I also have a right to be protected from inappropriate information. This means you shouldn’t tell me about sexual exploits or similar misbehavior by my other parent. You also should not apologize to me-for my other parent-because this implies a derogatory judgment of my other parent. If you apologize to me, apologize for yourself.